MANX TALES NO.10                Grandstand/Service/Saturday 1.45

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 22 White Strand
VERY PROVISIONAL LEADERBOARD
1st (1) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 2.24.55.1
2nd (2) Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr (Impreza WRC) 2.25.13.2
3rd (4) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Focus WRC) 2.27.21.3
4th (11) Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Impreza N) 2.29.33.2
5th (16) Guy Wilks/Phil Pugh (Ignis) 2.33.16.2
6th (17) Jonny Milner/Nick Beech (Lancer N) 2.34.14.8
7th (27) Roy White/Stephen McAuley (Lancer N) 2.35.15.6
8th (24) Phillip Morrow/Daniel Barritt (Lancer N) 2.35.22.6

Please remember the above leaderboard is very provisional as Derek McGarrity has unfortunately crashed heavily in stage 22.  Following drivers either stopped with Derek or stopped at the next junction to make sure that help was on its way. As far as we can ascertain Eamonn Boland stopped at the scene and stayed for a while. He is now reportedly on his way here so how that is going to affect his times we must wait and see.  There is also a suggestion that Eamonn’s Focus had a puncture. For the purposes of showing a leaderboard we have pencilled in notional times for the drivers after McKinstry. This may change.

Derek’s accident happened on the switchback section of stage 22, White Strand – that is after the cars came up from the tight stuff through the farmyards on to the top road along the edge of Staarvey. Gwyndaf Evans had a huge accident there a few years ago.  Derek’s Subaru is very far off the road just down from the jumps and is stuck in the trees.   We spoke to co driver Diarmuid Falvey a few minutes after the accident and although very badly shocked he was unhurt, but Derek was still in the car. Rescue services were in attendance and we believe Derek has a broken arm.  The new S11 is badly damaged. 

Out at the front of the rally Eugene Donnelly and Kenny McKinstry have had a battle royal over the last 3 stages, as indeed they have been doing for the entire event, although both badly shaken at the news of Derek’s accident they took time out to relate their own bit of the story.  Eugene had a problem with his throttle cable on a road section.  He was able to take the springs off the hand brake and fix the throttle.  It did mean that co driver Paul Kiely had to keep the hand brake pressed firmly down through the stages as if it came up it disconnected the differentials.   Eugene shook his head when he heard about Derek’s accident and said. “We took the whole thing flat out”.  Kenny McKinstry’s attitude was. “Yes, we took it flat out as well but the slightest bit off line and you are in trouble. We had a cracking run over those 3 stages, as hard as I could go and I certainly haven’t given up trying to win. I’ve sent Emma out to have another run over to check all the notes and get as much detail as I can. The car is fine, the only problem I have is that I’ve just taken the sorest guts known to man. I had to go behind a hedge after that last stage. I’m sure it wasn’t a pretty sight! I have asked the boys to boil up and cool some Coke to see if that will help”. 

Mark Higgins had a good run through the last stages and if by any chance Eamonn Boland doesn’t appear here at service it will mean Mark will move up to 3rd. Guy Wilks’ times are shown as having a 1 minute road penalty for going into the re-group early, but co driver Phil Pugh reckons he has an answer for that. Just before stage 22 Jonny Milner was shown ahead of Guy but we think this will possibly be reversed as above.  Roy White and Phillip Morrow are having a huge battle, swapping seconds and there is nothing to choose between them going into the last 2 stages. Whoever comes out on top will of course get maximum Pirelli Tarmac championship points.  

Gwyndaf Evans retired at service before stage 20 when his Lancer blew its rear differential.  After stage 20 Gareth Jones was 10th, Conrad Rautenbach 11th, David Wright 12th, Julian Reynolds 13th, Barry Clark 14th and Shaun Fox 15th. Latest news on Derek McGarrity is that the rescue crew have him out of the car. More news to follow. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net